Steel tie or bridle bar construction



W Harfe/1 Dec. 17, 1935. T, W, RORRER STEEL TIE ORBRIDLE BAR CONSTRUCTION Filed June e, 1935 Za/fms Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATESv PATENT OFFICE STEEL TIE OR BRIDLE BAR. CONSTRUCTION Thomas W. Rorrer, Eight, W. Va.

Application June 6, 1935, Serial No. 25,318

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a steel tie or bridle bar construction particularly adapted for use in the laying of car tracks in coal mines.

It is especially aimed to provide a novel construction which is capable of use at a joint as well as at any other point along the rail. When the device is used as a joint, it eliminates the use of the usual separate splice bars, sh plates or angle bars.

It is further aimed to provide a novel construction of tie capable of being rolled relatively thin from metal.

In addition, I aim to provide a novel construction wherein bolts are not essential for the fastening of the rail ends, since novel locking lugs or plates are employed.

The more specific objects and advantages Will become apparent from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with accompanying drawing illustrating an operative embodiment.

In said drawing:-

Figure 1 is a plan View of a tie and associated rail ends illustrating my improvements;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of one of the ties, with a rail in place;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a detail perspective View of one of the locking plates employed; and

Figure 6 is a view in perspective of one of the outside locking plates or lugs.

Referring specifically to the drawing wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts, I0 generally designates a railway tie of steel, and of a construction enabling it to be manufactured by a rolling process. This tie along its longitudinal edges has downturned or depending reinforcing flanges II, and centrally, it has a depressed longitudinal rib or the like at I2 extending to the same depth as the flanges II, so that the rib I2 and flanges II will all rest on the same supporting ballast or surface to guard against warping of the tie. This construction is an exceedingly strong one and enables the tie to be rolled thinner than usual, when desired, without sacrifice of strength or efciency.

The means for securing rails I3 in place is duplicated at opposite ends of the tie. Such means consists of xed outer lugs I4 and pivotally mounted inner lugs I5. Said lugs I4 and I5 are of any desired width and usually are the (Cl. 23S-61) same or approximately the same width as the tie.

The Xed lugs I4 are riveted at I6 to the tie and they have rail engaging portions I'I of angular form, cut away and intimately conforming to 5 the shape of and fitting the base flange I8 and web I9 of the rails, and also at Athe upper edges abutting the under surface of the head or ball 20 of the rail. The purpose of lugs I4 is to support and brace the outer sides of the rails. 10

The pivoted lugs I5 are pivotally mounted by means of a rivet or bolt at 2l, eccentrically disposed as shown, and the lugs I5 have angle portions 22 conforming in shape to those at Il, so as to conform in shape to and intimately fit 15 the base flange I8, web I9 and ball 2D, in the same manner as portions I1.

It will be noted that one corner of the pivoted lugs I5 is cut away as at 23. Adjacent such cut away portion 23 a locking member 24 is piv- 20 oted by a rivet or the like 25 to the tie, and such locking members are adapted to be moved inwardly into the out away portion or recess 23 to look the lugs I5 against accidental displacement. 25

The free ends of the locking members 24 are upwardly deected to form lips 26, which overlap the lugs I5 in locked position.

It will be understood-that the movement of the lugs I5 and locking members 24 on their re- 30 spective pivots is not a free movement but that they must be driven or forcibly moved on such pivots, to the end that the vibration in use will not dislodge them.

My improvements efliciently mount the rails 35 without the aid of any bolts, such as are used in securing ordinary fish plates or the like to the rails. However, some constructions of the rails have openings 2'I therethrough, and in such instances, standard bolts or the like 28 are se- 40 cured in the aforesaid openings 21, also passing through openings 29 and 30 in the lugs I5 and I4, respectively.

As previously intimated, the invention is primarily butrnot necessarily used in the laying of 45 railway tracks in a coal mine, and it will be realized that the same can be used at a joint of adjacent rail ends, as well as at any other location along the rails and that it eliminates the use of usual splice bars, fish plates or angle 50 bars.

Various changes may be resorted to provided they fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. A device of the class described comprising 55 a tie, a lug on said tie engageable against one side of a rail, a lug on said tie engageable against the other side of a rail, means eccentrically pivoting the last mentioned lug on the tie, and a locking member on the tie to secure the last mentioned lug in operative position comprising an element pivoted to the tie movable to and from a position overlapping the second mentioned lug.

2. A device of the class described comprising a tie, a lug on said tie engageabie against one side of a rail, a lug on said tie engageable against the other side of a rail, means eccentrically pivoting the last mentioned lug on the tie, and a locking member on the tie to secure the last mentioned lug in operative position comprising an element pivoted to the tie, the second mentioned lug having a cut away portion engaged by said element in the locked position of the second mentioned lug.

3. A device of the class described comprising a tie, a. lug on said tie engageable against one side of a rail, a lug on said tie engageable against the other side of a rail, means eccentrically pivoting the last; mentioned lug on the tie, and a locking member on the tie to secure the last mentioned lug in operative position comprising an element pivoted to the tie, the second mentioned lug having a cut away portion engaged by said element in the locked position of the second mentioned lug, the inner portions of both lugs being of angular form so as to engage the adjacent portions of the base ange, web and ball of a rail.

THOMAS W. RORRER. 

